Here are some photos of how I spent my Saturday night. The Claypans - after 50 odd mm of rain in January. There isn't usually water out there, just pans of clay but the water has hung around since January and it's just stunning. Who would be anywhere else hey???? Jealous??

I can't really figure out how to work this thing......Alas thank you to all who informed me the link wasn't working. If you're reading this, it should be oK now. I changed the link and I think it's done the trick.

So anyway, where was I - the services club in Parkes on a Friday night. Mum, Aunty and I were sitting on a table with a bunch of locals which is how we came to know that the local creative talent was none other than the town bricky who apparently volunteered to MC for the first time about 4 years ago just for the craic and has done it ever since - now for more than just the craic. These days he apparently gets paid a nice tidy little beer fund for his work, which might I add he earns and I think by the look of him probably spends on the job. It was gold. There were Elvis' everywhere, and the atmosphere was just terrific. So much laughter and jocularity it was rather difficult to control myself in the presence of family - y'know how it is right!! SO in order to give myself a little bit of space to roam the green pastures for a few minutes I sauntered over to the bar, got myself a scooner of Draught and propped myself by the bar taking in my heavenly (for an Elvis fan) surroundings. Lots of drunk, lads dressed as Elvis flanked me on every side and I was loving it. SO, imagine my surprise when I got a tap on the shoulder. Turning around I found an Elvis smiling up at me. I smiled back and said hey.He said "hey,hows ya night?" you know as you do, and before I had the chance to reply in full, he said "Look I'm just going to skip ahead a couple of steps here OK? I stood with bated breath, as he said "Imagine, the best sex you've ever had, with an Elvis shorter than you". After choking on my scooner of draught for a few moments, I managed to compose myself, and for the ensuing half an hour or so I listened to him tell me all the reasons why I could not possibly go home without having sex with him.I would regret it for the rest of my life apparently. While I wouldn't go THAT far, I found myself wishing I was not there with my um and aunty. He was hot. Short, but hot, and bloody funny! There was a little bit of intelligent conversaton in there too believe it or not, and he was genuinely shocked when I advised him I would not be having sex with him. I had to keep Rainbow, but my friends call my Rain under wraps. It bloody near killed me, she was gagging to get out and shake her booty with the best of em'in Viva Las Parkes...... wouldn't be surprised if mum was thinking the same thing - for anyone who saw her let loose on that horrid stripper at my 21st.......oh the pain of it all.

Anyway, the fun did not stop there. Saturday morning kicked off with Elvis bingo at another club. All the old dears (and me) down there hoping their numbers would come up to win an Elvis doll and some souvenir Elvis bingo markers. I was tempted to mug the dear who won, but you know again the whole family thing just put a dampener on everything. Bless em'. Must be a good time to see if I can add some photos hey?? Here goes.

waaaayhaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy!!! I thought this blog was lost forever, it's been so long since I wrote in it. It was kinda weird to read through all that again from my first weeks and months in the Territory - some of it is bloody funny though, bloody funny actually. I'd forgotten some of those stories.......

Anyway, Now it's 2010 - that's 3 years since my last blog entry, and just like the stories that kicked it off, here comes some more that I felt could not possibly pass the world by without being shared. And it's all about ELVIS! Where do I start? January 7th, 2010 - Melbourne to Parkes. Mum, myself, my aunty and Fergus! Fergus 4runner who might I say has been an absolute legend getting us all the way to Alice without a drop of extra sustenance (water or oil) - mind you I wasn't happy when he pulled the plug on keeping us cool one day when the temp guage outside hit 40deg. Mind you, based on my past expereince with vehicles and fire I guess I should be grateful. So we rolled into Parkes on Janury 7th for the annual Elvis festival when the quaint little town of Parkes turns into a gyrating, rocking town of burning love for a week. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. It was like being constantly tickled for 4 days straight. I can't do the humour of it all justice so you;ll just have to plan a trip to Parkes in January to see for herself - if you like being tickled that is. On Friday night we decided to divest oursleves of thirty bucks for dinner and entertainment at the local services club. Well, talk about laugh. The MC was the local bricky who also wrote and coreographed the entertainment for the night. Talk about funny! It was brilliant. The local BRICKY, featured here in the plaits surrounded by a number of Elvis's.

UGH - I can't figure out how to put the photos where I want em'. Stay tuned for more.....